Barclay de Tolly, Mikhail Bogdanovich

(Michael Andreas) (13.HII.1761, estate Pamushise, north of Mr.. Siauliai, Lithuania - 14.V.1818, Grange Shtilittsen under Instenburgom, East Prussia, the ashes taken to his estate Beklor, Livonia)
A descendant of immigrants from Scotland, settled in the seventeenth century. in Riga. Participated in the Russian - Turkish war of 1787-1791 gg., In the Russian-Swedish wars of 1788-1790 and 1808-1809., In the Russian - Prussian - French war of 1806-1807 he. Even then proved himself as a talented military leader. In May 1809, Mr.. the rank of general of infantry was appointed Governor-General of Finland. Since January 1810, Mr.. September 1812. - Minister of War, held military reform, which resulted in increased strength of the Russian army has improved its organization, has increased the combat capability. In World War II 1812. commanded the 1 st Western Army, he was the same as Minister of War, obey and 2 Army Bagration. With the significant superiority of the French troops had successfully implemented a plan of escape only correct and connections in Smolensk, the two Russian armies. Then, under his leadership, the Russian army continued to retreat along the old Smolensk road. Following the appointment of MI. Kutuzov commander of B. de T. continued to command the 1 st Army. In the battle of Borodino commanded the right wing and the center of the Russian army. B. de T. facilitated began a guerrilla movement against the invasion of Napoleon, . asked in July to a populated area in the theater of military operations with a call to fight against the enemy, . formed the first Army guerrilla unit under the command of General Wintzingerode,
. While foreign campaigns of 1813-1814. - Chief of the Russian-Prussian army, including in the capture of Paris.

In St. Petersburg before the Kazan Cathedral is a monument to B. de T. (sculptor B.I. Orlovsky). As the resident memory of the heroes in the park - a bust B. de T. (1997, sculptor - People's Artist of Russia A.G. Sergeev). Name Used. de T. named one of the streets of the regional center.

Lit. Kochetkov AN. M.B. Barclay de Tolly. - M., 1970; Totfalukshin VP. M.B. Barclay de Tolly in the war of 1812. - Saratov, 1991; Zalesskii SA. Barclay de Tlolli / / Soviet Encyclopedia of History. - T. 2. - M. - P. 132-133; Leonidov L.B. Barclay de Tolly / Patriotic History of Russia from ancient times until 1917. - Encyclopedia. - T. 1. - M., 1994. - P. 164-165.